Month: May 2022

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Erick Thohir, on Monday described this year’s Eid as a momentum for revival.

“This year’s Eid is a revival,” said Thohir at the At-Thohir Mosque, here.

The minister called Eid Al-Fitr 1443 Hijriah a great momentum for a nation that has struggled hard to face several challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s been two years, so, of course, conditions like today are a day of awakening, and God willing, Indonesia will go in a better direction,” said Thohir.

Given the large economic growth, at the current momentum of revival, job openings need to be maintained, he added.

“With extraordinary economic growth, of course, what must be maintained is job creation,” he said.

The Minister of SOEs appealed to all elements of the nation to make Eid al-Fitr a momentum to strengthen togetherness and mutual cooperation for restoring the national economy.

“With synergy and hard work together, Indonesia will be able to increase economic growth to become a big country in the future,” Thohir remarked.

 

Source: Antara News

President Joko Widodo has assured that the 2022 Eid homecoming flow in various Indonesian regions has been smooth.

“I see that everything is going well,” Widodo said after meeting Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X at the Yogyakarta Palace here on Monday.

Regarding the long queues of vehicles at Merak Port, Banten, the President said that the volume of vehicles exceeded the capacity of the docks and ships.

However, he assured that the long queues could be reduced by increasing the number of ships and docks.

“The ships have been increased from 30 to 50, but it is not enough,” the President noted.

According to the President, the 2022 Eid homecoming flow was joined by around 85.5 million people traveling on 23 million four-wheeled vehicles and 17 million motorcycles.

“The numbers are really very large, so I urge you to come back early. Do not return on Saturday and Sunday, so there will be traffic jams, especially on toll roads and national roads,” he said.

At least 1,757,837 vehicles left Greater Jakarta area during the period from April 22 to May 1, 2022, or a day before Eid al-Fitr, state-owned toll enterprise PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk reported earlier.

In a statement issued on Monday, Jasa Marga’s corporate communication and community development group head, Dwimawan Heru, informed that the figure is the cumulative traffic figure from four main toll gates (GT).

The toll gates comprise GT Cikupa (Merak), GT Ciawi (Puncak), GT Cikampek Utama, and GT Kalihurip Utama (Trans Java and Bandung).

“The total number of vehicles that left Greater Jakarta increased by 18.6 percent as compared to the normal period of November 2021, with the total of 1,482,047 vehicles,” he said.

The vehicles leaving Greater Jakarta were headed in three directions.

The majority of them, or 945 thousand vehicles (53.8 percent), headed east, namely to Trans Java and Bandung; at least 484,653 vehicles (27.6 percent) headed west, namely to Merak; meanwhile, 328,184 vehicles (18.7 percent) headed south, namely to Puncak.

 

Source: Antara News

Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, has been expecting Japan’s investment on the construction of a new capital city and renewable energy projects.

The message was conveyed by President Widodo, widely known as Jokowi, directly to Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java province, on Friday, during the Japanese prime minister’s visit to Indonesia, as part of his tour of Southeast Asian countries.

Indonesia’s new capital city mega project has been estimated to cost around 466 trillion rupiahs (about 32 billion U.S. dollars).

Previously, Japan’s SoftBank Group, a noted investor, was reportedly ready to invest no less than 30 billion dollars on the construction of the new capital, but pulled out from the plan in March.

Japan has been one of the largest investors in Indonesia for years, particularly in the infrastructure sector. Among Japan-Indonesia’s ongoing joint projects are the Jakarta mass rapid transit (MRT), in the current capital city, and the Patimban Port in Subang district, West Java province, for which Japan and Indonesia agreed on additional loans in yen.

Widodo also hoped for more expansion projects with Japan in other sectors, such as energy, cement industry, as well as, farming and health technologies.

“In terms of energy and environment, I expect Japan can help us accelerate the energy transition agenda, through investment in renewable energy, like hydrogen, biomass and ethanol,” Widodo said at a joint press conference with Kishida, after their meeting.

Widodo also expressed a special hope to Kishida for wide access for Indonesia’s fishery and farming products to enter Japan’s market.

Both countries have also agreed to address the Russia-Ukraine ongoing conflict, in the Group of 20 (G20) Presidency that will take place in Indonesia’s Bali resort island at the end of Oct, of which Indonesia will become the host country.

“We will use the G20 Presidency as a catalyst to address humanitarian issues and global economic recovery. The war in Ukraine must end soon, and we must together create a conducive situation, so that we can reach a peaceful resolution,” Widodo said.

“Until now, Japan has received various supplies, such as coal, from Indonesia, and we thanked it for that. For the future, we will continue to cooperate regarding the zero-emission concept,” Kishida said.–

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) served 56,044 passengers during the first six days of Eid integrated air transport command post which commenced on April 25, 2022, state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura I said.

The passengers comprised 36,079 arriving passengers and 19,965 departing passengers, YIA General Manager Agus Pandu Purnama said on Sunday.

“The realization of the 2022/1443 Eid integrated air transport command post grew 4,390.71 percent compared to that of 2021,” he said.

During the first six days of the 2022 Eid integrated air transport command post, Angkasa Pura I recorded 402 flights or a 2,133.33 percent rise and 143,557 kilograms of cargoes or a 80.49 percent rise.

“Just on April 30, 2022 or two days ahead of Eid-al-Fitr, we recorded 10,532 passengers, 74 flights and 23,101 kilograms of cargoes through YAI,” he said.

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Agus Pandu said the peak of Eid homecoming exodus occurred on Friday (April 29) or three days ahead of Eid-al-Fitr with the airport serving 11,083 passengers, up 123.58 percent compared to the same period of 2021.

Meanwhile, the number of flights swelled 77.27 percent to 78 with 23,438 kilograms of cargoes.

“Judging by the growth we are optimistic that YIA as one of the airports managed by PT Angkasa Pura I can contribute positively in the future,” he said.

“To support smooth operation we will continue to ensure the preparedness of facilities and all personnel so that all airport service users will receive good services. ,” he said.

“We will ensure that the airport’s operations will be realized through the principles of 3S + 1C (Safety, Security, Services and Compliance) to support the government in ensuring safe, comfortable and healthy trips. “ he said.

Source: Antara News

The government needs to increase the number of buses carrying Eid homecoming travelers as precautionary measures against bus fare hike, a lawmaker said.

“Bus fare hike is inevitable when demand increases, while the number of buses in services does mot increase,” member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V Toriq Hidayat said in a written statement released on Sunday.

He feared the government’s failure to ensure bus operators’ compliance with the upper and lower bus tariffs will add to the public’s burden.

He realized the reasons behind the bus fare hike. One of the reasons is to offset the operational cost of the buses which usually have low load factor when returning from carrying Eid homecoming travelers to their hometowns.

However, he did not want bus operators to raise bus fare at will so that it exceeds the upper tariff.

“Therefore, I appeal to the Transportation Ministry to ensure that it will not happen. by, among others, making frequent impromptu visits to each main terminal and makeshift terminal during the homecoming exodus period,” he said.

For its part, the Transportation Ministry must increase the quota of buses serving homecoming travelers.

He opined the number of buses hired by the Transportation Ministry which reached 686 for Eid homecoming program is far from enough compared to the previous forecast.

“The Transportation Ministry can cooperate with regional governments and private parties in preparing buses for homecoming travelers. I believe the efforts to help the low and middle income homecomers will be worthy of praise from them,” he said.

Source: Antara News

Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia (DPR RI) Puan Maharani reaffirmed her commitment to creating and overseeing regulations that are in favor of workers.

“Since becoming a member of the House of Representatives in 2009 and until now serving as the House Speaker, my commitment to overseeing regulations that favor workers has never diminished,” Maharani said on the occasion of the commemoration of Labor Day, here on Sunday.

She and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction once tried to draft a law on the Social Security Administrative Body (BPJS) for Health and Employment.

The bill was not followed up for seven years, but then the bill was finally passed at the House Plenary Session, on October 28, 2011.

The benefits of the law are still being felt by the wider community. With BPJS health, the community, especially workers, can get free medical treatment.

“Then with BPJS Employment, workers can get various benefits, ranging from work safety guarantees to old-age insurance,” Maharani said in a written statement.

After serving as the House speaker, Maharani also continues to make regulations that are beneficial for workers, one of which is Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation.

The law was a breakthrough as it was drafted with an omnibus law system that revised many laws at once, she remarked.

Although the regulation was controversial, Maharani emphasized that the Job Creation Law was made for the welfare of the workers.

“The Job Creation Law is created to encourage transformation so that more people can work and become prosperous,” she said.

Previously, the Constitutional Court had stated that the Job Creation Law was conditionally unconstitutional and had to be revised within two years.

Maharani also ensured that the House respected the Constitutional Court’s decision and would include the Job Creation Law in the list of national legislation programs (Prolegnas) in 2022.

“During the revision process, we ensure that we will re-involve the labor groups so that the job creation bill is really siding with workers,” she said.

On May Day, Maharani wished all Indonesian workers a Happy Labor Day.

Source: Antara News

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi monitored the situation on D-1 of 2022 Eid al-Fitr at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Sunday.

He informed that the number of passengers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport this year was higher than in 2019 Eid al-Fitr

“On D-3, there were 141,000 passengers. This means that it is about three percent higher than that in 2019. This indicates that economic activities are moving,” he said at Terminal 2 of Soekarno Hatta Airport, on Sunday.

During the monitoring, he took his time to converse with several passengers at the departure terminal.

One of the passengers, Otto, expressed his joy at being able to go to his hometown this year. He was departing for Belitung.

“We can see that there are a crowd of passengers here. (This is) a moment which Indonesians have long awaited for, (since) we haven’t been able to go to our hometowns for two years. So, our longing is unimaginable. Thank you the government for your good work and for giving us the opportunity to partake in Eid homecoming this year,” he said.

Another passenger, Fanny, who would leave for Lampung, expressed her happiness as she was able to fly to her hometown after two years of restrictions due to the pandemic.

“Thank God, the government has allowed us to go home this year,” she said.

The minister’s entourage during his inspection at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang, included the Director General of Civil Aviation, Novie Riyanto; the President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II Muhammad Awaluddin; the President Director of PT Airnav Indonesia Polana B. Pramesti; and the Head of Region I Soekarno-Hatta Tangerang Airport Authority Yufridon Gandoz Situmeang.

The President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II, Muhammad Awaluddin, stated that the number of passengers in Soekarno-Hatta Airport on D-1 of Eid saw some decline compared to the peak on D-3 and D-2.

PT Angkasa Pura served 900 flights and some 125,000 passengers on D-1 of Eid at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

Source: Antara News

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has supported health protocol monitoring command posts at airports and seaports or crossings.

The posts was making sure that health protocols were applied by citizens who were partaking in Eid exodus, the agency’s acting Head of the Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center Abdul Muhari said in a written statement here on Sunday.

Muhari pointed out that the agency’s personnel who were stationed in Merak Port on Saturday informed residents to wear masks in a disciplined manner. The agency and the Banten Regional Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD) distributed masks to people in the port area.

Officers also distributed masks to people or vendors in the surrounding area. They conduct patrols to ensure that travelers follow health protocols.

The agency supported the program, which was also implemented at Bakauheni Port, South Lampung. The command post consists of personnel from BNPB; South Lampung District BPBD; Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency; Volcanological Survey; and the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry.

“This command post at the port also monitors the activity of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait. On Friday, the officers discussed the volcanic contingency plan in the event of an increase in activity,” he said.

On Thursday, April 28, Head of BPBN Lieutenant General Suharyanto monitored the preparations of Bakauheni Port to facilitate the arrivals and departures in 2022 Eid exodus. During the visit, he reviewed several facilities at the port, including the integrated post, Eid exodus monitoring post, vaccine booths, and swab test booths.

The agency, which also leads the COVID-19 Task Force, also monitored the situation at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten. BNPB and Banten BPBD operate command posts in this area.

The agency noted that on Saturday the departure gate at Terminal 1A was very crowded, and the arrival gate at Terminal 1A was quiet. Prospective passengers followed the health protocols, such as by wearing masks.

Meanwhile, at the departure and arrival gates at Terminal 2D, Terminal 2E and Terminal 3, the situation appeared to be under control. Officers who encountered people who did not wear masks immediately gave them masks and urged them to wear it.

The airport authorities use body temperature detectors to gauge passengers’ conditions, as an early screening for prospective passengers at the airport.

Source: Antara News